Chapters 29-33 of the Bhāgavatam describe the rāsa-līlā of Bhagavān and the gopīs. Some claim that sādhakas should not hear these chapters till they have freed themselves from material desires, as otherwise, hearing the rāsa-līlā can further inflame their material desires. However, these claims do not find support […]
From Śrī Babaji’s commentary on Anuchheda 153 of the Bhakti Sandarbha — In Anuccheda 121, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī concluded the investigation into the means of ultimate attainment, establishing bhakti as the abhidheya for all human beings. He then began to specify the primary characteristics of bhakti , which […]
Aparādhas or offenses are the only obstacles that prevent sādhakas from attaining the fruit of bhakti. There are sevā-aparādhas and nāma-aparādhas. I have presented nāma-aparādhas elsewhere. Here, I examine sevā-aparādhas. In the Bhakti Sandarbha Anuchheda 300, Śrī Jīva Goswami writes: tathāsmin pāda-sevārcana-mārge,yānair vā pādukair vāpi gamanaṁ bhagavad-gṛhe ity-ādinā āgamoktā […]
We have seen that disrespecting Śrī Śiva is an offense in a previous article on Śrī Sanātana Goswami’s commentary on Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Goswami’s Hari Bhakti Vilāsa. Here, I examine Śrī Jīva Goswami’s writings on disrespect of the devas. In Anuccheda 106 of the Bhakti Sandarbha, he first explains that […]
I continue the discussion from the previous article on Śrī Sanātana Goswami’s commentary on Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Goswami’s Hari Bhakti Vilāsa. Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa further explains why not observing Śivarātri is displeasing to Śrī Bhagavān by citing another verse from the Kūrma purāṇa: yo māṁ samarcayennityam ekāntaṁ bhāvamāśritaḥ […]
Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Goswami wrote a section in the Hari Bhakti Vilāsa, where he states that Śivarātri must be observed by Vaiṣṇavas. Here I translate his statements and Śrī Sanatana Goswami’s commentary on them. Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Goswami begins the section with: śivarātrivratamidaṁ yadyapyāvaśyakaṁ na hi | vaiṣṇavānāṁ […]
Question: Should Caitanya Vaiṣṇavas observe Śivarātri? Answer: In the Gadādhara parivāra, we fast on Śivarātri. Q: Some say that there is no need to observe Śivarātri. They cite the following from Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Goswami: śivarātrivratamidaṁ yadyapyāvaśyakaṁ na hi | vaiṣṇavānāṁ tathāpyatra sadācārādvilikhyate ||186|| Could you help me […]
I have presented Śrī Babaji’s translations of the ten offenses to Hari-nāma from the Bhakti Sandarbha in a previous article which were based on Śrī Jīva’s commentary. Here I present my translations of Śrī Sanātana’s commentary on each of the ten offenses. The first two offenses are: satāṁ […]
In Anuccheda 256 of the Bhakti Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Goswami explains the ten aparādhas or offenses to be avoided during chanting of Hari-nāma. I will present Śrī Babaji’s translation of Śrī Jīva’s list of offenses below, and follow up with Śrī Jīva’s explanations of each of the offenses […]
Some argue that quitting one’s profession, and “depending fully” on Bhagavān for one’s maintenance is necessary for one’s bhakti to qualify as uttamā bhakti. In their view, any other lifestyle indicates a lack of faith in Bhagavān. These proponents quote the yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham verse from the Bhagavad […]
I continue translating Śrī Jīva Goswami’s commentary on the definition of uttamā bhakti given in the Bhakti rasāmṛta sindhu by Śrī Rūpa Goswami. He concludes the previous topic by pointing out that all that discussion was about the inherent characteristics of bhakti: tad etat svarūpa-lakṣaṇam – this was […]
I finally decided to sit down and translate Śrī Jīva Goswami’s commentary on the definition of uttamā bhakti given in the Bhakti rasāmṛta sindhu by Śrī Rūpa Goswami. I also consulted the commentary by Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravarti where needed. This is a very deep and difficult topic discussed […]